WASHINGTON, April 15, 2013 –The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) announced that Southern States Cooperative Inc., Richmond, Va., has paid $1,350 to settle alleged violations of the Federal Seed Act.

This settlement resolves two cases, which involved two shipments of soybean seeds from the company’s location in Farmville, N.C., to Georgia. The alleged violations were:

-false labeling of pure seed and inert matter percentages; and

-advertising a brand name as a variety name.

AMS administers the Federal Seed Act with the assistance of state seed officials. The investigation was completed through the joint efforts of AMS and seed regulatory officials in Georgia. The Federal Seed Act is a truth-in-labeling law designed to protect farmers and consumers who buy seed.